Flash hider and recoil absorber



1.8. BUTLER AND E. FOWLER.

FLASH HIDER AND RECOIL ABSORBER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23, I919.

1,415,919., Patented May 16, 1922.

warren stares PATENT @FFEQE.

JOHN S. BUTLER AND ELBERT FOWLER, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

FLASH HIDER AND RECOIL ABSORBER.

Application filed January 23, 1919.

Specification of Letters Patent.

(FILED UNDER THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1883, 22 STAT. L, 625.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN S. BUTLER, (apt., 0rd. l)ept.. United States Army, and ELBERT F OWLER, Capt, ()rd. Dept, United States Army, citizens of the United States, stationed at \Vashington, D. C., have invented an Improvement in Flash-Hiders and Recoil Absorbers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention described herein may be used by the Government. or any of its oflicers or employees in prosecution of work for the Government, or by any other person in the United States, without payment of any royalty thereon.

The subject of the invention is a flash hider and recoil absorber, designed for use on small arms, though especially adapted to small arms of the rapid fire or automatic variety.

When firing small arms a recoil is experienced which tends to elevate the fire arm causing the same to be thrown out of train with the target and necessitating a readjustment and resighting of the fire arm before a subsequent shot is fired.

In the case of rapid fire or automatic fire arms. this readjustment is impossible of execution before a subsequent shot has been fired, the consequence being that shots fired after the first shot are liable to be inaccurate and wide of the mark.

The present invention aims to overcome this difficulty by properly utilizing the force of the gases produced on explosion of the charge.

The invention also provides means for relieving the upward pressure of the gas while retaining to some extent the downward pressure to counteract the tendency of the fire arm to elevation.

The invention likewise contemplates providing a surface upon which the gases may impinge to exert a pressure opposing the tendency of the fire arm to elevate on recoil.

It is also within the objects of the invention to provide a simple and efiicient means 1' or accomplishing the desired results.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed,

it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of. the invention.

Practical structures for carrying out the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a view in longitudinal section of a form of device constructed in accordance with the invention, shown in place on a fire arm a fragment of which is shown in elevation;

Fig.

2 is a plan view of the same; Fig.

3 is a plan view of still another form of the device;

Fig. 4 is a View in elevation, partly in-longitudinal section of a preferred form of the device; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same.

Referring to the drawing by numerals of reference The forward or muzzle end of a rifle is indicated by the numeral 1, and is represented as supplied with a sight 2.

To the muzzle is connected, by threading or otherwise, a flash hider 3' in the form of a tubular extension. the front end of which is angled off to provide an extending lower wall or portion 4'.

When the gases pass the position indicated at 55', (Fig, 1,) they cease to exert an effective upward pressure but still exert pressure on the extending portion 4 of the lower wall, due to the expansive force of the gases, which pressure is opposed to the force tending to elevate the rifle barrel, thereby aiding in retaining the fire arm in its original position.

In the modification shown in Figure 3, the structure is substantially the same as that just described. A flash hider or tubular extension 3" is provided which has an open slot 6" formed in its upper Wall at the forward end of the tube thus providing an extending lower wall 4".

The action of the gases in this instance is the same as that heretofore described, being free to expand upwardly as soon as they arrive at the slot 6" but exerting a downward pressure on the extending wall or portion 4".

A preferred form of the device is ilustrated in Figures 4 and 5 wherein a. rifle barrel is indicated by the numeral 1, and to the muzzle of the barrel a, flash hider 3 is connected.

The recoil absorber may consist in a split nipple or extension 7 which is connected to the free end of the flash hider 3 in any suitable maner, but, as herein shown, an annular groove 8 is formed about the flash hider 3, adjacent its free end, and the split nipple 7 is slipped over the end of the flash hider to overlle the groove and indentations 9 are made in the nipple by punching or otherwise, to project into the groove and lock the nipple in place.

When the nipple 7 is in place on the flash hider 3, the edges defining the split are parted slightly, as seen most clearly in Fig; ure 5, and the surface of the flash hider between these edges is roughened slightly, as indicated at 10, by punching with a sharp instrument 01* otherwise. This is done to lock the nipple aganst rotary movement with respect to the flash hider.

The upper wall of the nipple is cut away at its forward end to form a slot or opening 6, and the lower wall 4 slopes upwardly, as seen most clearly in Figure 4, topresent an inclined surface for the gases to impinge upon as they are ejected from the fire arm, thus securing a greater force tending to counterbalance the elevating force due to recoil.

In practice, when the gases formed in the barrel of the firearm by the combustion of the powder have passed the position 5-5, they are free to expand upwardly because of the cutaway portion or slot 6. The ejected gases, due to the force of expulsion or ejection, will exert a pressure upon the inclined surface 4, and one component of this pressure or force will be exerted downwardly and at right angles to the surface. This downward pressure or force will be augmented by the downward pressure due to expansion of the gases and will tend to counterbalance the force due to recoil tending to elevate the fire arm.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A flash hider and recoil absorber embodying a tubular extension attachable to the muzzle of a fire arm, said extension formed with an annular groove near one end thereof, a split nipple encircling the extension, means on the nipple engaging the groove to-lock the nipple to the extension, and means for securing the nipple against rotary movement with respect to the extension, the said nipple having a cutaway portionin its upper wall and an inclined lower wall underlying the cutaway portion.

2. A flash hider and recoil absorber embodying a tubular extension attachable to the muzzle of a fire arm, and a nipple attached to one end of the extension and provided with a cutaway portion in its upper wall, and an upwardly inclined lower wall under lying the cutaway portion. v

3. A flash hider and recoil absorber, embodying a tubular extension attachable to the muzzle of a' fire arm, a nipple encircling the free end of the extension, and means for locking the nipple to the extension, the said nipple having a cut-away portion in its upper wall and an inclined lower wall underlying the cut-away portion.

4. A flash hider and recoil absorber, embodying a tubular extension attachable to the muzzle of a fire arm, said extension provided at the free end thereof with a cut-away portion in its upper wall and an upwardly inclined lower wall underlying the cut-away portion.

JOHN s. BUTLER. ELBERT FOWLER. 

